Maine State Police Looking For Livermore Falls Man Wanted In New Hampshire

The Maine State Police are looking for a Livermore Falls man who led New Hampshire Troopers on a chase into Maine early Wednesday morning (Dec. 21) before fleeing from the car along the Maine Turnpike.

According to Maine Department of Public Safety Spokesman, the suspect is Michael Gatcomb, 33, who now has several charges pending against him. McCausland said Gatcomb is believed to have fled into woods along the turnpike, just north of the York Toll Plaza. An extensive search of the woods by several police agencies did not locate him.

Gatcomb is 6 feet tall, weighs 190 pounds with blonde hair and blue eyes, McCausland said. Maine State Police Trooper Justin Huntley said in addition to Livermore Falls, Gatcomb is known to frequent Bath, Fayette, and Franklin and Washington counties. Anyone with information on Gatcomb’s whereabouts is asked to call State Police in Gray at 657-3030.

McCausland also provided a release from the New Hampshire State Police regarding Gatcomb.

On December 21, 2016 at approximately 0015 hours, Trooper Matt Locke of the NH State Police, Troop-A barracks attempted to stop a gold colored 2003 Hyundai Elantra on Interstate 95 northbound in the town of Hampton. Trooper Locke had observed that the the driver was having significant lane control issues, and the he also observed that the Maine registration plate belonged on another vehicle. As Trooper Locke initiated a motor vehicle stop in the vicinity of the Hampton Toll plaza, the driver of the suspect vehicle refused to stop, and a motor vehicle pursuit was initiated.

The pursuit continued north on Interstate 95 where speeds reached over 100 miles per hour. As the suspect vehicle approached the area of exit 7, Trooper Locke was assisted by officers from the Portsmouth Police Department as well as other troopers from the Troop-A barracks. The pursuit continued across state lines into Maine, where the eratic operation and excessive speed continued.

As the pursuit approached the York Toll plaza, Trooper Locke was assisted by troopers from Maine State Police, Troop-G.

The pursuit ended approximately 2 miles north of the York Toll plaza, when the suspect vehicle lost a front tire, and the vehicle ultimately rolled to a stop. The driver of the vehicle, described as a white male wearing jeans and a black hoodie pulled over his head and face, exited the moving vehicle out the passenger side door and ran into the woods. Troopers secured the scene and set up a perimeter while a K-9 from Wells was called to assist.

After a lengthy K-9 track, the suspect was not apprehended and he remains at large.

Assisting NH State Police were members of the Portsmouth Police Department, Maine State Police, Troop-G, York Police Department, and the Wells Police Department. Anyone with information pertaining to this incident is asked to contact Trooper Matt Locke, New Hampshire State Police, Troop-A, at (603)223-8490 or Matthew.Locke@dos.nh.